The Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation (RCIA 309-329) for children of catechetical age is based on the adult rite (218-243) with the following omissions in the children’s rite: no presentation of candidates (RCIA 219) and no litany of saints (RCIA 221). The rite with children includes an optional profession of faith for the community (RCIA 312) after the Prayer over the Water. The children may be anointed with the oil of catechumens, if they have not already been anointed. However, this ritual is usually omitted.

Otherwise the rite proceeds much as it does for adults, with some simplified language in the explanations and prayers. Overall, it looks like this (options in parentheses):

LITURGY OF THE WORD

CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
Invitation to Prayer
Prayer over the Water
(Community’s Profession of Faith)
Children’s Profession of Faith: Renunciation of Sin, (Anointing), Profession of Faith
Baptism
Explanatory Rites: (Anointing after Baptism–only done when confirmation is delayed), (Clothing With a Baptismal Garment), Presentation of a Lighted Candle

CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION
Invitation
Laying on of Hands
Anointing With Chrism

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

I’ll home in on a few specifics in the next few posts, but I won’t be going into great detail.

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About catholicsensibility

Todd and his family live in Ames, Iowa. He serves a Catholic parish of both Iowa State students and town residents.

about Todd Flowerday

A Roman Catholic lay person, married (since 1996), with one adopted child (since 2001). I serve a parish in music ministry.

about John Donaghy

John is a lay missionary since 2007 with a parish in western Honduras. Before that he served in campus ministry and social justice ministry in Iowa. His ministry blog is http://hermanojuancito.blogspot.com

He also blogs reflections on the lectionary and saints/heroes/events of the date at http://walktheway.wordpress.com

He'll be a long-term contributor here analyzing the Latin American bishops' document from their 2007 Aparecida Conference.